The Road Safety Authority is today calling for nominations for the annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ awards

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is calling on communities all over Ireland to nominate a ‘Leading Light’ in road safety. Now in its fifteenth year, the Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards recognise the contributions made by groups or individuals who campaign, educate and are committed to improving road safety in their community.

Nominations are now open and more information on how to enter in the awards is available on the RSA website. The closing date for entries is 11 October 2024.

Entries will be accepted in each of the following categories:

• Road Safety Champion of the Year
• Education - Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, Special, Third Level/Further and Community Education
• Public Sector
• Emergency Services
• Gay Byrne Media Award
• Business
• Future Award
• Sustainable Travel
• Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) of the Year
• CPC Trainer/Training Organisation of the Year

The winners of each category will be in with a chance of becoming the winner of the Gertie Shields Supreme Award for 2024. The award is dedicated to Gertie Shields, an inspirational road safety activist who sadly passed away in 2015 and who won the Supreme Award in 2013.

The RSA is committed to reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads and recognises that this requires collaboration from organisations, government agencies, communities and individuals. Through the Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards, the RSA wants to pay tribute to the significant efforts made by people and organisations all over Ireland in helping to reduce deaths and serious injuries. 

Announcing the call for entries, Ms Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA, said: “I am delighted that we are once again hosting the annual Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards for the fifteenth year. As Chairperson of the RSA, it is always an honour to meet people in communities across Ireland who work tirelessly to make our roads safer for everyone. These awards recognise the stellar work of the volunteers, students, teachers, businesses, journalists and community groups driving road safety awareness and education. I would encourage you to nominate someone you know who has made an extraordinary contribution to promote road safety, so we can honour them through the Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards.”

Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA, commented: “The Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards are a public acknowledgement of the people who devote their time, energy, and lived experiences to help improve road safety. The contributions made by community champions in promoting road safety fuels our ambitions for reversing dangerous trends and achieving our goal of reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% over the next 10 years. For the last 14 years, we have celebrated some stellar ‘Leading Lights’ at the awards, and I look forward to congratulating this year’s winners in December.”

Nominations can be submitted online at rsa.ie and anyone submitting a nomination is encouraged to include relevant background information, such as photos, videos or other supporting documents to enhance their application. The entries will be judged by an expert and independent judging panel.

The winners of each category will be announced at the awards ceremony in Dublin Castle on 4 December 2024.

Further details on the Leading Lights Awards can be found https://www.rsaleadinglights.ie/entry-form-2024/